After Samuel Basallo, their first high-profile Latin American signee reached the majors and quickly signed an extension in 2025, the Orioles are hoping they can repeat his success with their 2026 international signing class under vice president of international scouting Koby Perez.
The Orioles had $8.034,900 to spend on their class and spent more than 75 percent of the pool on just four prospects from the Dominican Republic: shortstop Jose Luis Acevedo and outfielders Ariel Roque, Pedro Gomez and Gabriel Rosario.
Acevedo, a 17-year-old whom Baseball America rates as the 11th best international prospect, signed for $2.3 million, the highest in club history. Roque, ranked 22nd, signed for $1.7 million. Gomez, the 38th-ranked player, and Rosario, ranked 41st, signed for $1.05 million.
Acevedo said that Houston, Arizona and Minnesota were also trying to sign him, but he liked the Orioles.
“I’ve always been impressed with the way they’ve treated us [Dominican] players,” Acevedo said through a team translator in a video conference call from the Dominican Republic. “I know this team has a lot of good players in the organization.”
The signings were first reported by Baseball America and confirmed by an industry source.
Baseball America also reported the signings of left-handed pitcher Andri Hidalgo and outfielders Joshddy Castillo and Carlos Rubecindo. Hidalgo received $625,000, Castillo $375,000 and Rubecindo $400,000. Hidalgo, Castillo and Rubecindo are all from the Dominican Republic.
These figures were confirmed by an industry source.
Two Venezuelan catchers, Luis Diaz and Ray Faria and shortstop Jhostin Aybar from the Dominican Republic also signed.
The previous record international signing was for shortstop Luis Almeyda, an American-born player who moved to the Dominican Republic. Almeyda signed for slightly under $2.3 million.
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